Draft Thoughts

Ok, so a number of people said 4 hrs is too short
12 is definitely too long, but I even think 8 hrs is too long, that's just 1 pick in a 12 hour window.

What I tried last year was a big failure, but I like how its going so far this year.. quick.. but I thought that enough notice had been given to prepare owners. Maybe I was wrong...

I sort of feel like Harrisburg and Montreal were gone for over a day and don't care at the same level as the rest of the owners... not that they are bad owners for that but can we cater around a league to an ownership style that is more hands off? It seems like this activity would be an issue for free agency...too and always keep them at a disadvantage. But In FA they just miss out on bidding so they don't complain, because they are skipped in the draft with presumably fair warning it a huge injustice? One thing I don't like is that I saw both owners who were skipped, logged on early in the morning and could have sent a 4-5 person list and been ok? That seems fair to me... disagree?? I know some people have jobs during the day and that they can't get any time to look at emails, but is that the case here or was it just oversight and not good planning? Its not like we suddenly went through 10 picks in a day.

What if its 4 hours, but if 5 picks are made in a day, then no picks after that are skipped that day? I liked that idea a bit. I just hestitate to make it much longer because I know it slows down the draft exponentially... with a 4 hr limit it seems people are around more because they know things will happen....

The 2019 Draft - Clone Time!

Ted Schmidt of Key Largo has pointed out to me that several of the players in this draft idolize Deuce stars to the point of copying batting or throwing motions and this has not been lost on scouts.

One grizzled old-timer said "When I look at Shanty Welburn I can't help thinking about Rebel Wiesler. The kid's definitely a young version of Reb." And with Wiesler halfway to 3,000 hits and currently poking the ball at .303 for Key Largo you can expect a lot of interest in young Welburn.

Phoenix slugger Ben Howerton has an admirer in young Bug Lanphier. "The spitting image of Big Ben" said that old scout, as he watched Lanphier tattoo the ball in batting practice. Bug told this reporter "I only hope I can be as successful as Mr. Howerton. I sure am rooting for him to win the homerun title this season." And I'm sure that any team would love to have a young hitter who might grow up to hit .338 with 23 homers in half a season!

The recently drafted Armando Lozano reminds people of Luis Trucks...a lot! With Trucks posting a 2.71 ERA so far this year Valencia couldn't resist selecting the young righty. "He looks just like Trucks, with that motion!" a bystander said, as Lozano worked out.

But this trend of younger ballplayers copying their idols isn't limited to future "sure things". El Paso AAA hurler George Gabler has a big fan in 21 year old Jawaun Haynie. "I don't know why", said young Haynie, "but there's something heroic about George Gabler and without realizing it I started to pitch like him."

Similarly, Bilal Byman has grown up being a fan of Jackson's Adrian Beeler. "He's so solid behind the plate, I guess I just patterned myself after him" said Byman.

And now, courtesy of Warren Steeves, a mock draft, already wrong!

1. Seattle - Felipe Romero
2. Mexico City - Jorge Arias (these two were already picked when Warren made this list)
3. Valencia - Martin Escamilla (oops, Valencia went for Arias)
4. Harlem - Boileryard Boultes
5. Iowa - Armando Lozano (oops, gone at #3)

well, he goes on through the first round but it's more information than I feel like dealing with. The funny thing about this is that it's really pretty good but like most mock drafts, goes off-track easily. With the Lozano pick at 3 it makes #5 wrong and even funnier, a little birdie told me there's a good chance that Harlem won't even be using that pick at #4! I better not make a mock draft myself, assuming that the Harlem rumor is true because then Warren will use the pick and I'd be wrong right away.

Boxscore madness...

Somebody explain this one to me:

C Joe Pierson, in Calgary's 10-2 win over Iowa was 0-5 with no walks and 1 strikeout, and managed to steal 3 bases and score a run. I'm sure he could have struck out and made it to first, or hit into a fielder's choice or whatever, but he had some bug up his ass to get 3 steals in 1 game. His previous high for a year was 7 in 162 games for Montreal a while back.

Weird.

The Weddel watch has slowed to a snail's homerun pace, being only at 10 HR in 16 games. So he's only going to hit 100 this year, not 162 anymore.

Did he just say that?

Koree Titze, 4 years, $3 million, Iowa: Titze probably won’t be a .840 OPS, Lori Cooper-sized Titze, like he was in 2016-7. (Had to get in at least one new baby joke.) But he should be better than his horrid season last year, especially in Iowa.

2019 Begins!

Welcome back to 2019!

So the blog went away pretty early in 2018. I'm a poor blogger to begin with, and the holiday season kinda got in the way a little bit. But, I'm a helluva blogger for the first few weeks of the season and here goes. :) So here are the quick bits:

Tavon Weddel is... amazing. I wondered when FPS starting calculating OPS and then realized that was just his SLG percentage. Sick.

Calgary got swept by Mexico City and then swept GB. Weird.

Did I mention Weddel is on pace for 162 HR?

Henry Orr is batting .559. That'd be a record, even if he still played in Calgary.

Some big injuries in the first sim. Check your rosters, I don't wanna spoil it.

This should be a very competitive season... I'm excited that it's back!

Go Calgary, and anyone else who wants to post, please hit me up for a login!

Mike
Calgary

Most Competitive Season in Deuce History?

In normal season, by June 13th at least a third of the teams in the league have made noise about selling. This June 13th, only two divisions have a definitive leader (Phoenix in the Rec East and GB in the Browne Central). Furthermore, only six teams are truly out of it, and three of those teams play in a division with Green Bay. That leaves 5 divisions containing 21 teams that all have a legitimate shot at a wild card finish if not a division title.
The poster-child for this season is the Rectenwald East, where last place London (31-34) has the same number of losses as first place Washington (34-31) has wins. This division will be decided by who makes the best deals in the next couple months. (either that or Bermuda's offense whenever it wakes up.) Then there's the central where Mobile and Des Moines are in a dead heat for 1st place, with El Paso charging up the standings. On top of that, Oklahoma City seems to have righted the ship with what is one of the more talented rosters they have ever had.
Over in the Browne the West division probably won't be decided until the last day of the season. Overshadowed by the Honolulu/Calgary duel are two very good teams in Valencia and Oregon, which are both a hot streak away from making this a three (or four) team race. Valencia is very talented and if their pitching gets going, they will be tough to beat. Oregon is very deep, and if two or three of the 20 or so good players they have catch fire, they are right back in it. Harrisburg is starting to pull away in the East division, but is still only 7.5 games ahead of last place. Jackson is a question mark, but apparently one that plays good baseball, and Orlando is just biding time until its pitching staff gets back.
With so many variables involved, its any one's guess as to how the pieces will fall. With that said, I'm giving myself two wild card picks in the following predictions.

Rec East - Key Largo - because I really want to win (Probably Washington though)
Rec Central - Des Moines
Rec West - Phoenix
Wild Card - Mobile or Oklahoma City

Browne East - Harrisburg
Browne Central - Green Bay
Browne West - Honolulu
Wild Card - Calgary or Orlando

Key Largo gambles to improve pitching staff

The Hurricanes made an interesting move Wednesday, June 13th, trading their 2019 1st rounder to Harlem for veteran starter Larry Kelleher and promising young arm Dontrell Rasnick. While it's possible that the Hurricanes actually needed to improve their offense more, the addition of the two new arms gets Virdell Madding back to the minors where he belongs and sends complete bust (Damn you Aaron) Gunner Bradfield packing. Of the departure of Bradfield, management said the following, "That one really hurts. Gunner showed so much promise. He strikes out better than a batter an inning with that ridiculous knuckler of his, but we could never convince him to abandon his fastball." Perhaps as a starter in Harlem he'll work out his issues, otherwise he'll just be another scrap heap project someone picks up near the end of FA each season, hoping for a turnaround.
Kelleher and Rasnick on the other hand should really improve the Hurricanes pitching. Kelleher has been a dominant ace at times in his career, and Rasnick has two very good pitches and the potential to start if needed. It may take time for the roles to settle out, but this trade signals that the Hurricanes are getting ready to make a run at it this year and more moves may be coming.

Rating the 2018 Amateurs

I don't have the greatest of stakes in the year's draft since my first pick will be at #45. Maybe Lucio Lennon will be around then, with his potential 78 fastball and 68 slider, with 53 control. Maybe. Or Dobie Makmquist, a rightfielder with 56-54-50 potential.

So this is pretty straight-talking, with no reason to misdirect anyone into taking the wrong guy so that I can get who I want! No, this is just what I see.

This draft is a pitching draft. I rate 4 of these guys in the top 20 of the entire league. When you consider that a career might last 15 seasons then you'd expect 1 or 2 in the top 20. Not 4. And I've got 7 in the top 40, instead of 3. I've got 1 hitter in the top 20, another at 34, another at 57. That's thin! And after the 9th best hitter (at #93) we drop all the way to 177. That's how I've got it. The 10th best hitter is #177. The 10th best pitcher is #69.

If I had the first pick I'd take Louis Wickland. Three solid pitches, good arm, excellent control. While I rate a lot of pitchers highly, all the rest have question marks. Souchock and Dimaria are changeup pitchers who should be good but I shy away from that type, although a quick look at the ratings would compare Souchock to Konstantino Shawn and Dimaria is similar to Sondag and Easley. Lap Dog, Fernandogu LaPierre, is the best reliever but you can't pick a reliever that early, can you? Parnell McDevitt intrigues me. His primary pitch is a slider so he won't be relying on a change. I think Zeth Janco will be the most overrated pitcher in the draft. I'm hoping he slips to #45.

Among the hitters, it's got to be Orion Cornish, with his 63-65-64 ratings and his 39 vL. But even if he's the best hitter in this draft he's still only the #3 1b in the league, or will be #3 when he matures. He'll be a solid player but doesn't compare to Desmond Hume, from the last draft.

I've got Burley Trippy rated as the second best hitter in the draft and yet only the 9th best centerfielder in the league. If you're picking early and you don't have one of those 8 then Trippy is a good pick, otherwise take a pitcher!

My Top Ten:

Louis Wickland, P
Carlin Dimaria, P
Judson Souchock, P
Orion Cornish, 1b
Fernandogu LaPierre, RP
Parnell McDevitt, P
Burley Trippy, CF
Binh Datson, SS
Hyman Tusler, RP
Maxwell Abney, 3b

and I'd think hard on relievers Abbie Vache and Kaiser Artus.

2018 so far

It's a young season, but here are the things that have caught my eye. Feel free to argue with me about any of them.

1)Mobile has absolutely snuck up on me and the rest of the Rec Central. At first I expected this team to fall back, but why should they? The have two fantastic starters in Bob Hill and Decker O'Quinn (although you could say the rest of the rotation is overachieving a bit), a decent pen, and an extremely fast offense full of guys that hit the ball hard. Kudos to Logan for quietly putting this team together.

2)What is going on the in Browne Central? GB is doing what GB does, but seems truly vulnerable for the first time in a great while. Age and attrition seem to have caught up to Indy, but they shouldn't be this bad, should they? Finally, what is Iowa doing? Unless I'm completely wrong about pitchers getting rest (and I might be, it's possible that FPS has just decided Iowa can't pitch this year. See what Shannon has to say about that.), Iowa would be better off picking up the worst two guys off the waiver wire and throwing them in the pen rather than running down their very good rotation and what little bullpen they have to the point where the waiver wire might be an improvement.

3) Jackson should not be this good, but I know that Jeff Dalmedo is, so I don't know what to think.

4) Finally, the Browne West is awesome. If Valencia's pitching holds up as the weather gets warm (And park effect is the only reason I'm questioning it), this is a legitimate 3 team (Honolulu, Calgary) race between what may be the 3 best teams in the Browne. Poor Oregon is going to get stuck being a bridesmaid with a very solid, deep team this year.

2013 Draft Rivalry Renewed

When Augie Plascencia and Rahim Acy went 1-2 in the 2013 draft, the debates began as to whether the unprecedented ability of Plascencia to get the bat on the ball or the more traditional combination of great average and power of Acy would make a better ballplayer. However, the contest was absolutely derailed when a combination of injuries and drastically different playing environments made any comparison between the two players pointless. By 2017 Acy had cemented himself as the centerpieces of one of the highest octane offenses in the league, and Plascencia was struggling to prove he wasn't a bust. 52 games into the 2018, a stadium change has put an end to that question and revitalized the competition between Acy and Plascencia. Replacing 81 home games in a hitter's hellhole by building a new, more offense-friendly park has roughly equalized the playing environments of the two former prodigies, and the leader boards are showing the results. They are currently 1-2 in RBI (Acy 43, Plascencia 41). Augie is currently at the top of the leader board in average, hits, slugging, runs, and runs created, taking over most of those categories last week when he went 21 for 36 with 3 HR and 11 RBI. Acy on the other hand is top ten in many of the same categories and has been at or near the top at times. It's a young season, but it appears this will be an exciting battle for the rest of the season and perhaps a great rivalry for many years to come.

We Got Sondag'd

Congrats to that dirty bastard Michale Sondag for no-hitting your reigning Deuce Champs on May 28th. We just came off of outbursts of multiple double-digit runs and this madman comes and breaks this wicked outing off on us.

I guess we shouldn't have called him such a pansy a couple seasons back...

Where will the #1's go?

This is either gonna be an interesting trade season, an interesting offseason, or both.

Why?

Because there are 6 former #1 picks that are potential FA, not even counting arbitration eligible players(8 if you wanna count Ju and Kepp). On top of that 2 are garenteed to be going to FA. Both P Bob Hill and P Derek Ballinger are in the final year of FP deals that can't be extended.

At season's start that made these 2 guys some of the biggest trade fodder out there, but wait a min...Mobile is in 1st Place. For now, you'd have to think that Mobile will have to make a run for it and Hill won't go anywhere. If mobile faulters though, look for the Bob Hill Sweepstakes to heat up. As for Ballinger, Omaha also started out hot, but has cooled off and really it doesn't look like they have the horses to compete this year, so look for Derek to be playing for a contender sooner than later.

Besides the 2 hottest commodities above, vets like George Baumann, Jay Bell, Branch Soller, and Henry Orr are also potential FAs. Of these, Henry Orr is probably the most interesting because Indianapolis is at a point where they might be looking at rebuilding. Orr can be re-franchised, but he's already making roughly 7 and a half million a year. Does Indianapolis trade him? Do they let him test the FA waters? No one really knows, but Indy.

Who's going where? It's a bit early to tell, but stay tuned.

The sickness that is Denis Torrain

Denis Torrain is a disgusting human being.

The Oregon Reign powerhouse currently leads the league in ERA, K/9, BB/9, and Opponent's Slugging against. He also ranks high in saves, hits/9, and batting average/9.

Sounds like a fireman of the year candidate?

You'd think so, but this former #1 pick is currently sitting at 4 1/3 innings pitched over Oregon's first 28 games.

Gotta love the way FPS uses closers.

I think it'd be interesting as hell to see Torrain start. Give him the ball, Rado. Give him the ball!

POY Contender - Biddy McIntee

The best all around player in the league right now is Biddy McIntee. I know, I know... no big news, but it is quite impressive so far.

The El Paso CF currently leads the league in runs created, RBI, and stolen bases, and sits 2nd in hits, 3rd in average, and 4th in slugging and runs scored.

After spurning the Borderhounds' offer of an 8-year FP deal, McIntee is looking to blow his arbitration value through the roof.

"I knew the [FP] deal wasn't right just yet," said McIntee in an offseason interview. "I'm planning on staying in El Paso, but wanted another shot to prove my worth."

That being said, wherever the 62/62/86 superstar ends up, he plans on being a force with his bat and his speed.

"I enjoy making things happen," McIntee grinned. "If I can go out and cause havoc on the basepaths, or hit a double into the gap, or bang out a 3-run homer, I'm going to do whatever I can to make this team better."

El Paso currently sits at 8-8, 5 games back of red hot Mobile.

Look for more player/team profiles to come.

Season begins - Calgary goes streaking!

"We're goin' streaking!"

Yes, it feels that way in Calgary so far this season.

After a 3-game sweep of Orlando to start the year, Calgary was promptly swept by Jackson to begin their roller coaster ride. After two sims, and no streaks of less than 2 (wins or losses), the Marauders sit in first place with a 8-6 record. Calgary is currently on a 3-game uptick and hopes to continue to take that into the next sim. More later...

Inspired...

I was inspired by Aaron's masterful work in the Diamond Notes to set up my own GBC2 Blog. Yes, I know Terry has his own setup on the PTS, but this one will likely be different. I have put together an area for Deuce chatter so multiple owners can BS at once. I will also potentially have some podcasting materials to put up (depending on how ambitious/bored I get). Again, I would like to formally pledge my services for the league as soon as my Win98 laptop arrives and would hope teams would setup their own chat names (I used CalgaryMarauders, for instance) so we can all hang and get to know each other's teams/lives even better.

This is my formal pledge to keep this league alive as long as the participants are willing...

So, on to 2018, and long live the Deuce!

Mike
Calgary
Your 2017 Deuce Champs (like I'd leave that off...)